Mouse pad

ABSTRACT

A computer mouse interaction device that comprises a mouse interaction portion and a support surface interaction portion. The device further comprises a storage section formed based on coupling the mouse interaction portion and the support surface interaction portion to the device, the storage section being accessible from a side of the computer mouse interaction device and visible substantially only from the side. The device further comprises separate storage areas within the storage section.

FIELD

[0001] The embodiments are directed towards computer mouse pads with astorage section.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Almost every person in a company now has a personal computer attheir desk. In order to work most software stored on the computer, acomputer mouse is connected to the personal computer and used to controla cursor on a computer monitor by rolling the computer mouse around on amouse pad. When using the computer in a business environment, a personusually needs to know one or more passwords to get into the differentsoftware packages. Aside from this information, most people also need toknow numerous phone numbers for either often used services or oftencalled clients. Further, people might need to know several office phoneand facsimile numbers that need to be given out to clients or othercallers.

[0003] In order to have this above-mentioned information more readilyavailable, a lot of it is on information sheets or business cards. Twobasic designs for storage areas of mouse pads have been developed tostore these sheets and business cards: (1) mouse pads storage areas thatare accessed by lifting a “door,” which is a top layer of the mouse pad,or (2) mouse pad storage areas that are formed in between layers of themouse pad, which require physically taking the mouse pad apart to get tothe compartment. Both of these configurations require removing the mousefrom the mouse pad and burdensomely opening or taking apart the mousepad to get to the information stored within the mouse pad.

[0004] Therefore, an aspect of the instant embodiments provides a mousepad with a storage section for frequently used informational items thatdoes not require the removal of the computer mouse from the mouse padsurface or any manipulation of the mouse pad to access the storageareas.

SUMMARY

[0005] Several embodiments provide a computer mouse interaction device.The device comprises a mouse interaction portion and a support surfaceinteraction portion. The device further comprises a storage sectionformed based on coupling the mouse interaction portion and the supportsurface interaction portion to the device, the storage section beingaccessible from a side of the computer mouse interaction device andvisible substantially only from the side. The device further comprisesseparated storage areas within the storage section.

[0006] Other embodiments provide a computer mouse interaction device.The device comprises a first portion comprising a friction surface thatreceives a mouse, a second portion coupled to the first portion, and athird portion coupled to the second portion and comprising a frictionsurface that interacts with a surface supporting the device. The devicefurther comprises a storage section formed via the coupling of thefirst, second, and third portions together, the storage section beingonly visible from a side.

[0007] Still other embodiments provide a computer mouse interactiondevice. The device comprises a first portion comprising a frictionsurface that receives a mouse and a second portion comprising a frictionsurface that interacts with a surface supporting the computer mouseinteraction device. The device further comprises adhesive areas on thefirst and second portions that receive adhesive material used to couplethe first and second portions together. The device further comprises astorage section defined between the adhesive areas after the first andsecond portions are coupled, the storage section being accessible from aside of the device.

[0008] Still other embodiments provide a computer mouse interactiondevice. The device comprises a first portion comprising flexiblematerial and friction surface that receives a mouse, a second portioncomprising rigid material coupled to the first portion, a third portioncomprising a rigid material and first, second, and third elongated,parallel extensions, the third portion being coupled to the secondportion, and a fourth portion comprising flexible material and afriction surface that interacts with a surface supporting the device,the fourth portion being coupled to the third portion. The devicefurther comprises a storage section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Further features of the embodiments will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which the embodiments relate from reading thefollowing specification and claims, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a mouse pad with a storage sectionaccording to several instant embodiments;

[0011]FIGS. 2A an exploded view of a mouse pad with a storage sectionaccording to several instant embodiments;

[0012]FIG. 2B is top view of an alternative embodiment of the mouse padin FIG. 2A;

[0013]FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a mouse pad with a storagesection according to a several instant embodiments; and

[0014]FIG. 3B is a top view of the mouse pad with storage in FIG. 3A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0015] As seen in FIG. 1, a computer mouse interaction device 10according several instant embodiments is shown. The computer mouseinteraction device 10 may be a mouse pad with a storage section 50. Themouse pad 10 is comprised of a first portion 12, a second portion 14,and a third portion 16. Adhesive material may be used to couple thefirst 12, second 14, and third 16 portions together.

[0016] With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the first portion 12comprises a friction surface 18, an adhesive receiving surface 20, twoside surfaces 22, and two end surfaces 24. The friction surface 18 mayreceive and engage a computer mouse. Two cut-out sections 26 may belocated Ad in and proximate to the two end surfaces 24. The cutoutsections 26 may be half-circle shaped, although other shapes arecontemplated within the invention. These cutout sections 26 are utilizedfor easy access to the storage section 50 once the mouse pad 10 isassembled. The first portion 12 may be made from a foam or functionallysimilar material that is coated or formed to comprise the frictionsurface 18 and adhesive receiving surface 20.

[0017] Again, with reference to FIG. 1, the second portion 14 comprisesfirst through third elongated extensions 28, 30, and 32, respectively,extending from a surface 34. The first and third extensions 28 and 32are positioned adjacent first and second side edges 36 and 38,respectively, of the surface 34. The third extension 30 runs proximate acentral axis of the surface 34 parallel to the first and thirdextensions 28 and 32, respectively. Optionally, as shown in dashedlines, either one or both fourth and fifth extensions 40 and 42,respectively, may be positioned on the surface 34. The fourth extension40 may be positioned along a second central axis of surface 34 andnormal to the first and second extensions 28 and 30. Similarly, thefifth extension 42 may be positioned along the second central axis ofsurface 34 and normal to the second and third extensions 30 and 32. Thesecond portion 14 may be made from a molded plastic, cardboard, orsimilar rigid material. Alternatively, extensions 28, 30, 32, 40, and 42may be adhered directly to the third portion 16 on the surface 34. Also,extensions 28, 30, 32, 40, and 42 may be support devices.

[0018] With further reference to FIG. 1, the third portion 16 comprisesan adhesive surface 44 and a friction surface 46. The friction surface46 may interact with a top surface of a table (not shown), or the like.The third portion 16 may be made from a rubber, foam, or functionallysimilar flexible material.

[0019] Accordingly, the storage section 50 is formed between the firstthrough third extensions 28-32, respectively, the adhesive receivingsurface 20, and the adhesive receiving surface 44 when the mouse pad 10is assembled. The adhesive receiving surfaces 20 and 44 may be attachedwith any known adhesive material to the second portion 14, such that themouse pad 10 is securely assembled. It is to be understood thatconnection devices may be used in place of adhesive materials, which arecontemplated within the embodiments. The storage section 50 can beutilized to store any elongated items (not shown) with easy access tothose items, whether or not the mouse pad 10 is being used. Hence, thereis no need to remove the computer mouse (not shown) from the mouse pad10 or manipulate the mouse pad 10 in any way in order to access thestored materials.

[0020] Now turning to FIGS. 2A-B, a computer mouse interaction device110 according to other instant embodiments is shown. All elementssimilar to FIG. 1 contain similar element numbers, with the exception ofa 110 designation, and will not be further discussed. A differencebetween the embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 2A is the addition of a fourthportion 113, which is positioned between the first portion 112 and thesecond portion 114. The fourth portion 113 comprises two adhesivereceiving surfaces 115 and 117. Also, the fourth portion 113 may be arigid material, maybe a cardboard or plastic. With regards to adifference between FIGS. 2A and 2B, alternative configurations are shownwhere either one optional extension 140 or both optional extensions 140and 142 are included in the device 110. In other alternativeconfigurations, only optional extension 142 may be included in thedevice 110. In other alternative embodiments, there may be no cutoutsections 126 in one or both of the first and fourth portions 112 and113, respectively, which may also be the case for the mouse pad 10 shownin FIG. 1.

[0021] Now with reference to FIG. 3A-B, a computer mouse interactiondevice 200, which may be a mouse pad, with a storage section 202according to still other instant embodiments is shown. The mouse padcomprises first and second sections 204 and 206. The first section 204is comprised of a flexible material, which may be a foam like material,and comprises a friction surface 208 and an adhesive receiving surface210. The second section 206 is comprised of a somewhat rigid material,which may be a cardboard like material or the like, and comprises anadhesive receiving surface 212 and a friction surface 214. In thisembodiment the storage section 202 is established through apredetermined positions of adhesive areas 216. Thus, where there is noadhesive there is the storage section 202, as can be seen in FIG. 3B.This figure shows one possible configuration of the storage section 202,as seen by the outline of the dashed lines, where many alternativeconfigurations are contemplated within this and all other embodiments.

[0022] The embodiments have been described in detail with respect tospecific embodiments thereof, but it will be apparent that numerousvariations and modifications are possible without departing from thespirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer mouse interaction device, the devicecomprising: a first portion comprising a friction surface that receivesa mouse; a second portion coupled to the first portion; a third portioncoupled to the second portion and comprising a friction surface thatinteracts with a surface supporting the device; and a storage sectionformed via the coupling of the first, second, and third portionstogether, the storage section being only visible from a side.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the second portion further comprises: firstand second parallel extensions extending from first and second oppositeedges of the second portion; and a third extension extending from acentral, symmetrical axis of the second portion, the third extensionbeing parallel to the first and second extensions; wherein the first,second, and third extensions are utilized to form the storage section.3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second portion further comprises afourth extension that is perpendicular to and between the first andthird extension.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the second portionfurther comprises a fourth extension that is perpendicular to andbetween the second and third extension.
 5. The device of claim 2,wherein the second portion further comprises: a fourth extension that isperpendicular to and between the first and third extensions; and a fifthextension that is perpendicular to and between the second and thirdextensions.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion furthercomprises: a first extension running along a first central axis ofsymmetry from a first to a second opposite edge; and a second extensionrunning along a second central axis of symmetry from a third edge to thefirst extension, wherein the first and second extensions areperpendicular.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portionfurther comprises: a first extension running along a first central axisof symmetry from a first to a second opposite edge; and a secondextension running along a second central axis of symmetry from a thirdto a fourth opposite edge, wherein the first and second extensions areperpendicular.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cutoutsection in the first portion proximate and edge of the first portion andproximate the storage section utilized to access the storage section. 9.The device of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third portions arecoupled with adhesive material.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein thefirst portion comprises a foam material.
 11. The device of claim 1,wherein the second portion comprises a plastic material.
 12. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a cardboard material.13. The device of claim 1, wherein the third portion comprises a rubbermaterial.
 14. A computer mouse interaction device, the devicecomprising: a first portion comprising a friction surface that receivesa mouse; a second portion comprising a friction surface that interactswith a surface supporting the computer mouse interaction device;adhesive areas on the first and second portions that receive adhesivematerial used to couple the first and second portions together; and astorage section defined between the adhesive areas after the first andsecond portions are coupled, the storage section being accessible from aside of the device.
 15. A computer mouse interaction device, the devicecomprising: a first portion comprising flexible material and frictionsurface that receives a mouse; a second portion comprising rigidmaterial coupled to the first portion; a third portion comprising arigid material and first, second, and third elongated, parallelextensions, the third portion being coupled to the second portion; afourth portion comprising flexible material and a friction surface thatinteracts with a surface of a support device, the fourth portion beingcoupled to the third portion; and a storage section.
 16. The device ofclaim 15, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth portions arecoupled with adhesive material.
 17. The device of claim 15, wherein thestorage section is formed by the coupling of the second, third, andfourth portions.
 18. The device of claim 15, wherein the first andsecond extensions run proximate opposite edges of the third portion andthe third extension runs along a central axis of the third portion. 19.A computer mouse interaction device, the device comprising: a mouseinteraction portion; a support surface interaction portion; and astorage section formed based coupling the mouse interaction portion andthe support surface interaction portion to the device, the storagesection being accessible from a side of the computer mouse interactiondevice and visible substantially only from the side.
 20. The device ofclaim 19, wherein the storage section is comprised of a plurality ofseparate storage areas.